HONOR ROLL

Dave Carothers (JD 1985) and Brent Giddens (JD 1987), both partners at Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP, were named 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Matt Cave (JD 2011) co-founded Kibler Fowler & Cave LLP, a boutique law firm focused on litigation for entertainment, business, real estate and financial services.

David Clark (JD 2010) was elected as partner in the Orange County office of Haynes and Boone LLP. Clark is a trial attorney who helps clients solve complex business disputes, with a focus on licensing disputes and other business litigation, along with areas such as patent litigation and trade secrets.

Monisha Coehlo (JD 2009) joined AlvaradoSmith as a partner in their Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, real estate litigation and cross-border U.S.-India legal matters. Previously, she served as the head of International Practice–India for ADLI Law Group.

Mark Foster (JD 1998) was elected as partner in the Orange County office of Snell & Wilmer LLP. Foster’s practice is concentrated on representing institutional owners, operators and developers, as well as financial institutions and investors.

Steffi Hafen (JD 2010), a partner at Snell & Wilmer LLP, will co-lead the firm’s new San Diego office. Hafen is certified in estate planning, trust and probate law by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice is concentrated in tax, trust, and estate matters with an emphasis in estate planning, business succession planning, charitable planning, and trust and probate administration and litigation, as well as state and local taxation. Maria Hall (JD 2003) will be recognized by the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles (NLG-LA) at its awards event. As an executive board member of the guild, she is a solo practice lawyer whose work focuses on civil rights, environmental justice and tenants’ rights, as well as pro bono activist legal defense. She has been active with many local organizations, serving as a trustee of the Mexican American Bar Foundation, co-president of NLG-LA, and attorney development director of the LA Incubator Consortium, which supports new solo attorneys committed to closing the access-to-justice gap.

Christine Harding Hart (JD 2011) was elected a partner at Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC. Hart’s practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on higher education and constitutional law matters.

Nathan Hardy (JD 2015) co-authored an opinion piece published in the Los Angeles Times, titled “Trump has packed the courts with right-wing ideologues. Democrats, what’s your plan?” Hardy is a co-chair of the Los Angeles Lawyer chapter of the American Constitution Society.

Alan Kang (JD 2004), the plaintiff’s attorney in a lawsuit against Rancho Palos Verdes’ Terranea Resort, was quoted in the Daily Breeze newspaper about the case.

Brien R. Kelley (JD 2000), a partner in the real estate practice of Sklar Kirsh LLP, was named by the Los Angeles Business Journal to its list of “Top Minority Attorneys in L.A.” While at USC Gould, Kelley was a Legion Lex Merit Scholar, vice president of the Black Law Students Association and a member of the Hale Moot Court Honors Program.

Brandon Kennedy (JD 2012) joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s international trade field office as a trial attorney representing the government at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York. He was previously employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Lisa Kloppenberg (BA 1984, JD 1987) in March was named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Santa Clara University, where she had been serving in an interim capacity since June 2019. Previously, she was dean of Santa Clara University School of Law and dean of the University of Dayton School of Law. Kloppenberg is a national expert in mediation, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, in addition to constitutional law.

Justin F. Mello (JD 2019) joined the Orange County office of Snell & Wilmer LLP as an associate with the commercial litigation group.

Steven Mindel (JD 1985) was named by Super Lawyers Magazine as one of the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Southern California. Mindel, a certified family law specialist, is the managing partner at Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein LLP.

Sean D. Muntz (JD 2002) was promoted to co-managing partner of RMO Lawyers LLP, a probate and trust estate litigation law firm. An experienced litigator, Muntz focuses his probate and trust estate litigation practice on representing beneficiaries, professional and corporate fiduciaries and charities in contested trust and probate estate and conservatorship litigation matters. Prior to joining RMO LLP, Muntz was a partner at international law firm Bryan Cave LLP, and was named a Southern California Super Lawyer.

Jeffrey S. Rasmussen (JD 2011) was recently elected a shareholder at Ray Quinney & Nebeker, a full-service law firm in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a member of the firm’s real estate section and helps clients navigate development of residential, commercial and resort properties, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions of real property, entitlements, zoning and land use issues. Andrew Stein (JD 1999) was elected a partner at Hersh Mannis LLP.

Laine Wagenseller (JD 1993) was selected as a Super Lawyer for the sixth consecutive year by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Stephanie Ward (JD 2010) joined the Starz cable and satellite network as the vice president of business and legal affairs. Previously, Ward was the vice president of business and legal affairs for 44 Blue Productions.

Kristen C. Vine (JD 1996) was named a director of Jackson & Campbell in Washington, D.C. Her practice focuses on the defense of complex insurance coverage litigation relating to environmental and toxic torts claims.

Jennifer Yee (JD 2012) was elected partner in the Phoenix office of Snell & Wilmer LLP. She was also recognized as a finalist for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s ATHENA Awards. ATHENA finalists are chosen for excellence in business and leadership, dedication to the community and support and mentorship of women.

Roye Zur (JD 2010), partner at Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP, has been chosen to lead the firm’s new bankruptcy and restructuring practice group. Zur’s expertise includes representing clients in bankruptcy and out-of-court restructuring transactions, bankruptcy and commercial litigation, including through appeal. In addition, he has extensive experience representing entities and individuals in the entertainment industry.